Blazers Lillard speaks about NFL protest

Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard said Monday he was happy to see NFL athletes taking a role in a controversy between them and President Donald Trump.

His comments came during media day at the Moda Center.

Many NFL players kneeled during the national anthem over the weekend to protest Trump’s earlier comments that players should be fired for doing so.

“I think it's sad that with all that's going on in the world in the United States, our president is concerned with football and basketball,” Lillard said. “You know, I kinda think that's crazy, but I think what you saw yesterday, with guys locking arms and guys kneeling and some teams not coming out for the national anthem, I think that's what it would take.”

Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick started the protest when he kneeled during the national anthem last year in response to how police treated blacks.